Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · An-Nahl 16:92

The woman who unravelled her yarn

مثل التي نقضت غزلها

Breaking an oath after making it firm is like spinning yarn strongly and then tearing it apart.

Quran

What it means

Do not be like the woman who spun her yarn firmly and then undid it into strands, taking your oaths as a means of deceit among yourselves (16:92).

As-Sa'di explains that this covers oaths to Allah and agreements between people alike: once made, they must be kept. One who breaks them gains only toil and loss, like the spinner, and he warns against those who keep their word only while they are weak and break it when they see gain.

Evidence

QuranAn-Nahl (The Bee)Quran 16:92

وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّتِى نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَـٰثًا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِىَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ٩٢

And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community.[712] Allāh only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ.

Translator's notes

[712] i.e., do not swear falsely or break a treaty or contract merely for a worldly advantage.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

92. And be not like her who undoes the thread which she has spun, after it has become strong, by taking your oaths as a means of deception among yourselves, lest a nation should be more numerous than another nation. Allâh only tests you by this [i.e who obeys Allâh and fulfils Allâh’s Covenant and who disobeys Allâh and breaks Allâh’s Covenant]. And on the Day of Resurrection, He will certainly make clear to you that wherein you used to differ [i.e. a believer confesses and believes in the Oneness of Allâh and in the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم which the disbeliever denies and that is their difference amongst them in the life of this world][20].

[20] (V.16:92) See the footnote of (V.3:85).

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